Wish to relocate back to Ohio (Cleveland, Lorain: health insurance, low crime, employment)

[ECHOES2]

After 11 years in the hot south, I want to return to the beautiful 4 seasons of Ohio. The ideal location would be within an hour or so of the Sandusky area and no more than that approximate distance from Amish country. Would live in Amish country if I could support myself there.

I've worked in health insurance for 35+ years (yeah, I know... sorry) and have 5 years before I can retire. My lifestyle is very simple, modest. It's just me and a pet.

I don't know where to begin, making a move like this, or what area to consider.

Any thoughts about affordable places to live would help me have a place to begin my planning.

Thanks for reading!

[woxyroxme]

Mansfield or Ashland, if you want to live in a really small town go north west of there and you will be an hour from Sandusky, Amish country would be in eastern Holmes county.

[ECHOES2]

Thank you. Although I've never been to either place, a grandparent on each side of the family is from each of those cities.

[Heidi60]

I also left Ohio a number of years ago and do miss the seasons.

I'm not sure about the distance but consider Lyndhurst, Ohio (near Cleveland)...low crime and close to some fun stuff.

[ohioaninsc]

Amish Country is pretty much in Holmes and Wayne Counties w/ a few more pockets in some other rural areas. You probably won't find Health Insurance companies to work for in the rural areas between Sandusky and Amish Country...and area I might look in though would be Medina...you could work in Cleveland...have a 30 min commute to and from work (maybe less)...be just over an hr to Sandusky...and about 45 min to Amish Country in Southern Wayne and Holmes Counties.

[sheena12]

Middlefield is very picturesque, and has a sizable Amish population.

I love all four seasons and I'd miss them if I were to move South. February and early March can be dreary. That's when I like to head to Florida.

Could never stand that heat in the Summer!

[i_love_autumn]

Originally Posted by ohioaninsc

Amish Country is pretty much in Holmes and Wayne Counties w/ a few more pockets in some other rural areas. You probably won't find Health Insurance companies to work for in the rural areas between Sandusky and Amish Country...and area I might look in though would be Medina...you could work in Cleveland...have a 30 min commute to and from work (maybe less)...be just over an hr to Sandusky...and about 45 min to Amish Country in Southern Wayne and Holmes Counties.

[i_love_autumn]

Lorain pop 65,000, would be a good choice and we have branches of the world famous Cleveland Clinic right here! Meets all your criteria.

BTW... The Amish do not use insurance of any kind as it is against their religious beliefs.So employment in that field in an Amish community is unlikely.

[lewimaech235]

If you are working for the health department in Holmes County, you're pretty much ONLY going to be catering to the Amish. If you want to be by the Amish, then you have a 6-mile commute to Millersburg for your job. I would say that with your job, you should be able to support yourself in such a rural area, but just remember that the amenities in Holmes County are sparse, and not that great. Especially if you live on the Eastern side of Holmes County, you are going to be dealing with buggy congestion, and it can get really dangerous sometimes. One time, I was on my way up to Wayne County from Northeastern Holmes County, and I thought the unruly horse was going to try to jump over my car. I don't know what really wants to make you in a place like that. I definitely didn't like it. My suggestion would be Wayne County or the Ashland/Mansfield area because those places definitely have better routes to Sandusky, and just enough amish (speaking for Central/southern Wayne County). Holmes County is too rural.